I see you, sitting there by the fire with your cup of hot cocoa (or wine). Don鈥檛 get too comfortable.
You might think you can rest on your laurels now that there鈥檚 a break in the mowing, weeding, sowing and planting action. But fall and winter are the best times to tend to your garden鈥檚 maintenance and prepare for the next growing season.
Outdoor care
For instance, have you yet? It鈥檚 not too late if the soil in your garden isn鈥檛 frozen. As long as the ground is soft enough to dig, you can continue to plant tulips, daffodils and other bulbs. Be sure to cover them with a 3-inch layer of mulch, or seed-free straw to prevent the heaving that often accompanies winter鈥檚 freeze-thaw cycles.
If the garden is frozen, avoid walking on the lawn, which would damage grass blades (and possibly soil structure).
Even in temperate zones, delicate garden plants like citrus trees, dahlias and spring-blooming plants often need protection over winter. Keep them warm with a loosely wrapped and secured .
Knock snow off evergreen branches to prevent . Arborvitaes and Leyland cypresses are especially susceptible.
Now is a great time to document what worked well in your garden this past season and what didn鈥檛, and note which plants you鈥檇 like to move in spring. I can almost guarantee you鈥檒l forget at least some of your intentions if you don鈥檛 write them down.
Go a step further and take photos of the plants you鈥檇 like to relocate so you鈥檒l remember where they are; it can be challenging to identify them when they first come up in spring, which is when you should dig up early bloomers.
If you have , consider trading them with some gardening friends or seeking out a seed swap, many of which are held at libraries or organized by garden clubs. Store seeds in paper envelopes or glass jars in a cool, dark spot away from fruit. Label them even if you鈥檙e confident you鈥檒l remember what they are. You won鈥檛.
If pests or diseases ravaged your plants during the growing season, read up on the you can use to thwart them next year.
Indoor care
Place near a west- or south-facing window to maximize sunlight, and give pots a quarter turn with each watering to expose all sides. While you鈥檙e at it, check them for mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. If you find any, rinse them off in the sink.
If you鈥檙e buying , check them carefully for whiteflies before bringing them home to avoid an infestation.
It may be too late to start Amaryllis bulbs indoors for holiday blooms, but if you pot them up now, you鈥檒l get to enjoy them during the winter doldrums. Plant them with their pointed ends half-sticking out of the soil, and water thoroughly once. Then keep the soil consistently slightly moist. Place them in a warm, sunny spot and increase watering when bulbs sprout.
When Amaryllis plants bloom, move them to a cooler room to extend flower life, but keep them away from children and pets; like many houseplants, they鈥檙e .
Remember the birds
In the absence of garden seeds, fruits, nuts and nectar, non-migratory over winter. Set out a feeder and keep it filled with high-quality birdseed. And remember to provide water in the absence of snow or rain.
The birds will repay you by feeding thousands of your garden鈥檚 plant-munching insects to their young in spring.
